Myanmar airstrike toll hits 50 as families gather dead
A military airstrike in Myanmar's Rakhine state has killed at least 50 civilians at a market hub. The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing civil war following the 2021 coup.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the intensity of the conflict between the military junta and ethnic rebel forces.
Families searched for bodies on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) around a charred market in western Myanmar after a military airstrike killed 50 people, one of the deadliest recent bombardments in the civil war.
Witnesses say the military's air force raided the riverside commercial hub in Kyauktaw town in western Rakhine state around midday (05:30 GMT) on Monday (September 28).
"It breaks my heart to see our people dying," said Aung Chay, still hunting for the remains of his brother-in-law he believes was killed in the attack.
"Civilians are being unjustly murdered, and I can't bear to watch it," the 49-year-old said. "I feel deeply pained and incredibly angry."
It was not possible to contact the Myanmar military for comment on the attack, which had an initial reported death toll of around 30.
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